What is nuclear fallout? -air particles made radioactive by a nuclear explosion -caused by the explosion of a nuclear weapon or power source What is ‘local fallout’?
-Most hazards from nuclear blasts come from short-lived nucleotides external to the body. These are generally confined to downwind of the weapon burst origin.
- Nucleotides- compound consisting of nucleic acids linked to a phosphate (Ex. Found in structure of DNA - 20-25 miles downwind~ lethal radiation dose (600 rads) would be accumulated by a person who did not find shelter within 25 minutes after the time the fallout- 40-45 miles~ have at most 3 hours after fallout began to find shelter(http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/Effects/wenw_chp2.shtml)
Fictional map of nuclear fallout from Japan to the Western United States How much is too much??? - Most people become ill after being exposed to 200-400 rads.- The lethal amount of radiation is 600 rads.- Chances of survival above 500 rads are slim (http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jmoilane/nuclear/Fallout.html)
What period of time is needed for fallout to decay to fairly safe levels
for short‐time exposure? -the average fallout decay is 1-5 years-some particles decay after seconds, some decay after decades-depends on contamination of surroundings, and the isotope present in explosion(http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/effects17.shtml)
Why are fallout shelters no longer maintained in the United States?-agency which they were sponsored by terminated in 1979-have evacuation plans for attacks-authorities believe there would be enough time to make a plan in the event of a nuclear plant meltdown(http://www.wnyc.org/story/118791-21st-century-fallout-shelters-not-really/)Abandoned shelter in modern day New York City What are the two main differences between bomb fallout and fallout from a reactor accident?-with weapons fallout, damage is caused by the immediate force of the explosion-in a nuclear reaction accident, the reactor literally melts, heating surroundings to an estimated 5000 degrees Fahrenheit-weapons accident completely desolates area-nuclear meltdown does not do as much damage, though it is just as dangerous(http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/nuclear_disasters/nuclear_disasters.html)
Nuclear Fallout
What is nuclear fallout? -air particles made radioactive by a nuclear explosion -caused by the explosion of a nuclear weapon or power source
What is ‘local fallout’?
-Most hazards from nuclear blasts come from short-lived nucleotides external to the body. These are generally confined to downwind of the weapon burst origin.
- Nucleotides- compound consisting of nucleic acids linked to a phosphate (Ex. Found in structure of DNA
- 20-25 miles downwind~ lethal radiation dose (600 rads) would be accumulated by a person who did not find shelter within 25 minutes after the time the fallout- 40-45 miles~ have at most 3 hours after fallout began to find shelter(http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/Effects/wenw_chp2.shtml)
Fictional map of nuclear fallout from Japan to the Western United States
How much is too much??? - Most people become ill after being exposed to 200-400 rads.- The lethal amount of radiation is 600 rads.- Chances of survival above 500 rads are slim (http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jmoilane/nuclear/Fallout.html)
What period of time is needed for fallout to decay to fairly safe levels
for short‐time exposure?
-the average fallout decay is 1-5 years-some particles decay after seconds, some decay after decades-depends on contamination of surroundings, and the isotope present in explosion(http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/effects17.shtml)
Why are fallout shelters no longer maintained in the United States?-agency which they were sponsored by terminated in 1979-have evacuation plans for attacks-authorities believe there would be enough time to make a plan in the event of a nuclear plant meltdown(http://www.wnyc.org/story/118791-21st-century-fallout-shelters-not-really/)
What are the two main differences between bomb fallout and fallout from a reactor accident?-with weapons fallout, damage is caused by the immediate force of the explosion-in a nuclear reaction accident, the reactor literally melts, heating surroundings to an estimated 5000 degrees Fahrenheit -weapons accident completely desolates area-nuclear meltdown does not do as much damage, though it is just as dangerous(http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/nuclear_disasters/nuclear_disasters.html)